Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-04-06

eagerly.
"You re a wonderful guesser," re
turns he. There is vague suggestion O.
sneer in his smile. "Before going
however, want to tell you that strok'
of luck has at last fallen at my feet. To
day the-my-my chief sent for me ant
offered me "a higher stool in the office
in fact'-
He hesitated good deal, and seems in
deed singularly ignorant of the proper
terms to be used with regard to his rist
in his position.
II am very glad," says Nadine, in he,
clear, cold, girlish voice, 80 devoid Of rea
interest.
"This rise will enable me to marry,
continues he, watching her closely. Sht
is evidently aware Of his scrutiny, be
cause her face remains impassive, ever
while her fingers interlace each other ant
grow into clasp that leaves her knuckle!
white. She mods her head softly in an
swer to his remark, not trusting herself
to speak.
s'But 1t will take me out of town." HI
is watching her still narrowly. But thiI
time she manages to meet his gaze. II
indeed, her fate is to marry this man,
/ and 60 with him wheresoeyer he goes,
then itwiH ebe only kind Of fortunett
drive them into the country, far from this
great London, where one meets every
one, and where those known to her in hel
present life might sometimes (cruel
thought) be seen by her.
"WellN' she says.
ut will take me out of the country
The fact is, continues he, rushing at the
rest OF his communication, II have been
offered post of-of trust that will take
me to America"
"You go there in search Of this man
who has stolen the sapphires?" says she,
| quickly. "You are hunting him down.
Is this your post of trust? Arc you "a
detective?"
Something like a vague smile fits
shrinks from him.
"Not exactly" His tone is full of mys.
terry. ''If detectives are abhorrent to
you, be happy in the thought that have
nothing in common with them; that, in
| fact, detest them quite as much as you
do. No; I am going there in advance OF
the detectives, as hope. You'll be
ready to come with me''
SIS it to be soon?'
ut may sound soon to you, perhaps. In
about a month from to-day" 1t is now
growing toward the end Of July. "But
I may have to start earlier than that. You
will be ready?"
He is very pale as he presses the ques-
ton. If she refuses-if she even bar.
gains for more time, it will cause confus-
ion. But she does not refuse. A pro-
found sigh escapes her, but she says:
"Yes, I shall be ready" in voice sub
dued but void of trembling. If she is to
marry him, and thus to resign all good
the world can give her, it will make lit
tie difference whether she lives with him
here or in that far country he has
named; then q sudden thought occur
ring, she looks at him eagerly: "My
mother?" she says.
"Will Of course accompany u.s."
"Will your stay there be long""
"I hardly know-for some years GER
tainly; after that it is undecided"
"Everything is undecided that lies In
the years beyond" she sighs again.
"You are going abroad tomorrow, you
say?"
"Yes, for a week or two-perhaps
three. But I shall be back In time for
our wedding"
He attempts to speak lightly, but the
sad look on the girls face checks him.
He is, however, too elated by the victory
already achieved to know any fear for
the future. No doubt she is pining at the
thought of leaving her home, but once
married to him, the power and persist
ence of his love will conquer all regrets.
So he thinks; so he vainly believes.
"Don't look SO grieved, my darling, "
he whispers fontlly, pressing her
hand between both his own. "Think
of the long and happy future that
lies before you, with me forever
as your slave. The time will come,
Nadine, when you will not regard any
ties but the one that binds ME to you.
Ties of home and kindred will be as
naught beside it. Though now, perhaps,
you give ME your heart unwillingly,
then you will love even as you are be-
loved. Oh, that that glad hour were
blended with this!'' He presses his lips
ecstatically to the hand he still holds.
His whole face grows bright with the
affection that glows within him. Then
one word that he has used returns to him
with unpleasant force. Unwilling" ,"
he goes on musingly, frowning slightly.
eyes, you are unwilling to give me your
heart"
"Ah, no!' says she gently, and with q
troubled air of uncertainty; II am not
unwilling. You mistake me. I would,
with all my soul, that could love you as
you desire, and perhaps, indeed, in
time"- she hesitates, as though lost
in labyrinth of painful thought. "No,
l am not unwilling" she repeats again,
feeling how good thing 1t would be fol-
her could she indeed obliterate from her
mind all the too dear past and give her
self entirely to this man. "You speak as
though I am obstinately withholding
something's If you believed you were
robbing me of the heart on which you
set such store. But it is not so What
ever else you may have stolen, it was not
my love. You cannot steal that; but
some day, perhaps, I shall give it to you. "
Preoccupied as she is with sad and
hurtful memory, she is reused to present
life by the curious glance and start that
follows on her speech. Both are subdued
as suddenly as they came, and Annerley
once more regards her with only the ar
dent look of affection that before was his
but Nadine cannot forget that they were
there. Has he heard of Mr.. Duran? Has
Madness acquaintance with him come tc
his ears? Does he suspect Duran Of
being the thief who has stolen from him
/ his loves heart? She feels little cold
and sick with anxiety as she waits fol
his next words. They reassure her
"You give me fresh life," he says
"Some day, indeed the love crave shall
be mine. And now" glancing at his
watch, ~ fear our last moment has come
Now I must bid you farewell, until the
happy time that will see ME home with
you, with our near marriage only few
hours distant. Good-by, my darling, my
best beloved"'
Not living soul is in sight. Folding
her closely in his arms, he holds her tc
him as though he could never again
suffer her to 60. She feels the reality
the wild earnestness of his love at this
instant as she never before realized it.
Softened, subdued by it, she gently re-
turns his embrace, and then stands back
from him.
"You will think Of mckinley, low.
ingly?' breathes he with passionate en-
treaty. "Sweetheart! if you could only
know how hard it is to part from you fol
even these few days! Nadine, have pity or
me, and try to love me in my absence. They
say absence makes the heart grow fon
der;' prove the saying true. Alas! how
fatally honest your sweet eyes can be-
| There is nothing in them for me-noth
ing but pity! Well, even that is better